US embassy cable - 05VIENNA1152

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 001152 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/AGS -- VIKMANIS-KELLER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, AU 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN DEFENSE MINISTER TO RECOMMEND AUSTRIAN 
DEPLOYMENT TO KONDUZ FOR ELECTION; WILL REVIEW CAVEATS 
 
REF: STATE 60862 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR W.L. LYONS BROWN.  REASON:  1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  In a meeting requested by the Ambassador, 
Austrian Defense Minister Platter informed Ambassador that 
while he must still obtain approval by the government and the 
Standing Committee in Parliament, he will propose sending 
approximately 70 Austrian soldiers to Konduz, Afghanistan, to 
help in providing security for the September 18 elections. 
Platter also told Ambassador he wants good relations with the 
U.S., fully understands U.S. sensitivity over the recent sale 
of sniper rifles to Iran, and sought U.S. understanding of 
why he may, during future visits to Austrian peacekeeping 
troops on the Golan Heights, meet on occasion as he has done 
in the past with the Syrian Defense Minister.  END SUMMARY 
 
2.  (C)  Ambassador delivered reftel points on national 
caveats to Austrian Defense Minister Platter on April 7, 
2005.  Ambassador complemented the Minister on Austrian 
flexibility in KFOR and encouraged the Minister to be 
similarly flexible in Afghanistan.  Ambassador specifically 
suggested expanding the Austrian mandate beyond Kabul and 
keeping restrictions on the type of mission employment to a 
minimum that will allow ISAF commanders to use Austrian 
soldiers as needed. 
 
3.  (C) Minister Platter thanked Ambassador for noting 
Austria's efforts in the Balkans and said he understood the 
potential difficulties national caveats can place on military 
commanders.  He informed the Ambassador he supports new 
Austrian contributions to Afghanistan and will soon present 
to the Council of Ministers a proposal to send approximately 
seventy Austrian soldiers to Afghanistan for up to three 
months to support ISAF security efforts for the September 18 
elections.  He stressed that while the proposal must first be 
approved by the Council of Ministers and by the Standing 
Committee in Parliament, he has spoken to the Chancellor and 
the Foreign Minister on this proposal and has their support. 
Platter went on to explain that his proposal envisions 
deployment to Konduz, which moves Austrian soldiers out of 
Kabul for the first time, thereby responding favorably to 
Ambassador's suggestion that current Austrian caveats 
allowing deployment in Kabul only should be expanded.  In 
addition, he said he would review the Kabul-only restriction, 
approved by the parliamentary Standing Committee, that is 
part of the current mandate authorizing up to ten Austrian 
personnel to work in ISAF headquarters (he noted that Austria 
has three people so assigned at present, as well as two, 
under a different mandate, with the UN Assistance Mission to 
Afghanistan). 
 
4.  (C) Rifles to Iran.  Minister Platter expressed to the 
Ambassador his desire that Austria wants to support NATO/PfP 
and maintain good relations with the United States.  He said 
he hopes the frictions over the recent Steyr-Mannlicher sales 
of sniper rifles to Iran have subsided, and he understands 
the need to be careful in dealings with Iran.  The Minister's 
Chief of Staff, Major-General Bauer, interjected to explain 
once again that the Defense Ministry, under the Austrian 
coordination process, is charged with reviewing such 
proposals only to see if they have any potential impact on 
Austria soldiers abroad.  While it was clear the proposed 
sale had broader ramifications that the Defense Ministry 
recommended should be considered, the Defense Ministry itself 
officially could only consider the potential impact as 
described. 
 
5.  (C) Syria.  Minister Platter also asked the Ambassador 
whether from the US perspective the situation with Syria has 
improved now that Syria has announced its intention to 
withdraw all forces from Lebanon by the end of April. 
Platter explained to the Ambassador that Austria still has 
some 370 soldiers on the Golan Heights - they have been there 
now 30 years in the UN mission ) and that as Defense 
Minister he visits the Austrian soldiers there regularly.  He 
noted that from time to time it has been appropriate to meet 
during such visits with the Syrian Defense Minister to 
maintain a supportive environment for the Austrian soldiers 
engaged in this peacekeeping mission.  Ambassador observed 
that the US is waiting to see whether Syria lives up to its 
announced intentions to withdraw its military forces, but 
even if they are withdrawn as announced, there remains the 
issue of Syrian security and intelligence forces in Lebanon. 
Ambassador noted that the earlier planned visit by the 
President of Syria to Austria certainly had been undesirable 
politically and that the US Government and others were 
sensitive to such political contacts.  After the meeting Maj 
Gen Bauer asked privately of the Ambassador whether it might 
help Minister Platter in doing his visits to the Austrian 
contingent in Golan if the Austrians were to let the US know 
in advance if the proposed visit would include routine 
contact with the Syrian Defense Minister.  Ambassador replied 
it is certainly better to know about things in advance so 
they can be discussed, if need be. 
 
6.  (C) COMMENT:  We consider this proposal to send Austrian 
forces to support elections in Afghanistan, if approved, to 
be a very positive step forward.  While we would like 
ultimately to see Austria participating longer term in one of 
the Provincial Reconstruction Teams, the election security 
support mission is a logical and politically realistic step 
forward from the current mandate for up to ten staff officers 
only in Kabul only.  Austria continues to deploy over 500 
troops in KFOR, nearly 300 in Bosnia, some 370 in Golan, and 
recently announced its intention to provide five personnel 
starting in May to the UN mission in Sudan.  Austria's 
deployment of nearly 100 personnel for Tsunami relief in Sri 
Lanka only returned in mid February.  The proposal now to 
send seventy soldiers to elections in Afghanistan will allow 
a further testing of the waters politically. 
Brown